Indy's Birthday Dinner

We celebrated Indy's birthday by going to Malawi's for dinner. Indy really wanted sushi but since half of us don't like sushi we made him rethink.

Love the self-portraits.....

a whole family self-portrait!!

s'mores pizza---holy chocolate!

It was a fun birthday celebration!

Our Aging Dog

Duke is officially a senior citizen. He's almost 7 1/2 years old. Hard to believe we have had him that long.

Last month I noticed he was limping and not putting any weight on his back left leg. We waited a few days to see if it would get better. Well it didn't. So Kurt took him to the vet---he had to have his teeth cleaned anyway. After an x-ray they told us that he has hip dysplasia (which, in my very basic knowledge, is when the hip doesn't fit fully in the hip socket). It is very common in bulldogs and we pretty much knew that it would happen sooner or later. He will need a hip replacement down the road. Oh the joys of getting old!

The Response

Finn got the answer from the girl he asked to prom last night. I think that's a yes!

Indy turns 14

Indy last summer when he had his long, luscious locks.

Today is Indy's 14th birthday. So far it hasn't been much to be excited about. We gave him a toaster. (Seriously, we did! We have a toaster oven and he always complains about burning his toast because it doesn't have a timer. Therefore we got him a toaster.) And then he accidentally saw one of his presents on Saturday night. Bummer.

But I am determined to make it a better day. 1)He gets out early from school today. 2)I'm going to take him to Wendy's (his fav) for lunch. 3)We will either go to dinner as a family or at least head to Yogurtland for dessert!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INDY!

WE LOVE YOU!

Blend-O-Rama

This is the newest appliance in our kitchen. We have only had it 4 days and it has been practically running non-stop! It is the best. Around our house we make protein shakes and smoothies almost every day. Up to this point we have been using the Magic Bullet which has been great. But it doesn't even compare with the Blendtec. I put oatmeal in my smoothies and, with this blender, you can't even tell it's in there! No big ice or fruit chunks, no gobs of unmixed protein powder. This baby was not cheap but it has been worth every penny.

Hell's Revenge

After the race and a nice little nap, we headed out with Jay, Cami and the boys for a Hummer tour of Hell's Revenge. Some friends of Jay & Cami's own the Moab Adventure Center and gave us a great deal on the tour.

The wind was still blowing so we were glad to be inside the Hummer. Cam, Cline, Cale and Cache got to ride in the back seat.

We saw some cool dinosaur tracks.

By this point I was so tired of the wind and so freezing that I did not care how I looked in pictures (obviously). But it was a really fun tour and we are so glad we got to hang out with Jay, Cami and the boys.

Canyonlands Half Marathon

The time shown in the above picture was the clock time---not chip time. We were slow but not quite that slow.

This weekend Kurt and I went to Moab so I could run the half marathon. I was so excited to take all the kids down and have a fun family weekend. But, one by one, each of them had something come up or made other plans. So it ended up just Kurt and I---which was great.

I had signed up to run the race with Cami and Kaci. Kaci had to drop out because of a foot injury. She was bummed about that. I felt like I was fairly well prepared. I had a goal in mind and we were doing pretty well to hit that goal. Then about mile 9 my knee started hurting. I was hoping it would go away like random pains do so many times. Well it didn't go away. By mile 10 I had to stop and walk. From that point on I was walking more than running. So, unfortunately, we were way slower than I had hoped. But we did finish.

Injuries are so frustrating!! I did not have one IT band problem during all of my training. I can't figure out what the problem was. Add to that the fact that we had a head wind the entire race. Not at all the race I was hoping for. I guess there is always next year...

Orem vs. Skyline

Friday was the Orem vs. Skyline game.

Don't you just love that hair!

Finn made a goal! I wasn't there at the game---so sad! And Alan did not catch any photos of the shot but they said it was beautiful!

Congrats from team members.

That is one proud boy!

Orem vs. Olympus

Finn, Tony, Alex, Brandon, Jonathan

The weather cooperated nicely for Finn's 2nd Orem game against Olympus.

He got even more varsity playing time this game.

Subbing-in

These plays scare me to death----too many players in too close a space! Someone is bound to get hurt!

The madness has begun...

Yes, it's March Madness but, at our house, it doesn't involve any basketball. We are all about soccer around here. And with 3 kids playing this season it's pure madness. These pictures are from Finn's first Orem High game of the year. It was rainy, windy and cold. (I was not there....thank goodness!) Finn was able to get a little bit of varsity playing time! That is why his uniform (he's #12) is still slightly white.

The boys on the bench trying to stay warm.

photos courtesy of Alan Bailey

Happy St. Pat's Day

Pat with the kids on our trip to Kirtland in 2007

Today Pat would have been 73 years old. It's still hard to think he's not here anymore. Boy we sure miss him. I miss his booming laugh, his very firm pats on the back and his good advice. I know Kurt misses his wise counsel more than all of us. I know the kids miss our visits with him and his genuine interest in all that is going on in their lives. We knew Pat would be so proud of Montana when we found out she got accepted to BYU. It was his dream for all his grandkids to attend there. But we also know that he was very practical and would whole-heartedly agree with her decision to attend UVU on scholarship.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT! WE LOVE YOU!

The Asking

Finn turns 16 in about 3 weeks---just in time to go to Prom at the end of April. He had a couple girls in mind that he would like to ask to the dance. One of his friends beat him to the punch asking one of the girls. So, with his decision already made for him, he headed out last night to do the asking.

The girl he asked is an older woman (a junior!!!). Yeah Finn!

Now we just have to wait for the response. Hopefully it's a yes.

I think I am more nervous for Finn's first date than I ever was for Montana's!

A taste of spring

Yesterday was lovely! It was so nice to have a perfect day to watch a soccer game. I am ready for some warmth after a long winter. Of course I do live in Utah so it may snow next week! But I will definitely enjoy the warm temperatures while they are here.

Intramural Basketball

Finn and some of his friends just wrapped up their intramural basketball season. Let’s just say it was NOT a winning a season (0-8)! But they didn’t care one bit that they didn’t win a single game. They had such a fun time playing.

They were a bit like the Bad News Bears--a hodgepodge of uniforms, antics and personalities.

Q always wore his dad's junior high basketball shorts (circa 1980's).

Cameron would wear his wrestling singlet to every game. Most of the games he was wearing it WITHOUT a jersey over the top.

They can't wait to play again next season!

Sugar Rush

First of all, I am currently obsessed with these! This new desire for marshmallow has only started happening in the last few years. It started with Peeps--gross, I know. This year they have chocolate-covered Peeps! Those will do if it is all I can get but who can resist Hershey's chocolate over a marshmallow?!

The Hershey eggs are replacing sugar cookies--which were the obsession of the last few previous weeks. The sugar cookies are not as easily accessible especially when you have to drive to Draper to get my number one favorite cookie.

Top 3 Sugar Cookies (in my opinion-not including homemade)

1. Hagermann's in Draper

2. Dear Lizzie in Highland

3. Kneaders

Unfortunately, all these obsessions may soon be falling by the wayside as I may be starting a new eating plan come next week. I once thought I was addicted to caffeine but I now know that sugar is my true addiction. Yes, I have a problem!